Automatic electric regulator



No. 608,72l. Patented Aug. 9, I898. R. SKEEN.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

(Application filed Oct. 23, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheats--Sheet l.

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Patented Aug. 9, I898.

No. soa,72|.

R. SKEEN.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULA-TOR.

(Applicat'mn filed Oct. 23, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ROBERT SKEEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,721, dated August 9, 1898.

Application filed October 23, 1397.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT SKEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Electric Regulators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic electric regulators, being especially adapted for use with a series of electric ligl1tsboth incandescent and are lights-heaters, and other suitable devices.

The object of my invention is to cut out automaticallyone or more of such devices aforesaid, so as to utilize the available current to operate to full or nearly full efficiency the remainder of the lamps, heaters, or other devices in the series, and likewise to restore such cut-out (one or more) devices when the current rises to the predetermined voltage.

To this end my improvements have reference to an electromagnet preferably of the solenoid and internal-armature style, have reference to a set of contacts suitably wired to such devices to be regulated and adapted to be energized by said electromagnet and its operative connections, have reference to a safety cut-out for restoring the series of devices to normal connection in case of accident to the regulator, have reference to a retarding device for the solenoid core or other moving piece operated by the magnet to avoid the fluctuation of current due to jars in motion, such as in cars, and have reference to other points hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference letters and figures indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a face view of the preferred form of my regulator with its electric connections in diagram and the lamps of a canroof in plan, showing the preferred arrangement for cutting out 5 Fig. 2, a modification using switch-arms operated by the moving armature or solenoid core, and Fig. 3 a modification showing a horizontal solenoid and spring-actuating armature.

Having made practical application of my regulator to the lamps of streetcars, I will proceed to describe my invention with re tend to draw it outward and downward.

Serial No. 656,138. (No model.)

spect to lamps, it being distinctly understood that my invention is not limited to incandescent or are lamps, but can be used for heaters and other devices, such devices being arranged in multiple or in series and it being desirable to cut out one or more of such sets or independent devices by the action of the armature, and likewise to cut in such devices previously cut out when the current is capable of fully feeding all of them, and to perform such operations automatically, surely, safely, and quickly.

Referring to Fig. 1, the letterA designates an eleetromagnet, preferably of the solenoid form of spiral coil, arranged vertically on its axis and one end of the coil tap connected at B to a wire communicating with the trolley pole and wheel. The other end of the coil leads off to a ground connection through an interposed resistance O, preferably composed of li hts in series, as shown. This resistance C may be dispensed with, if desired, providing the solenoid be wound with sufficiently small wire to make up for its absence. In a street-car, however, there are some lamps, such as at the front and rear, which are always required to be burning at night, and which provide the required resist ance.

Near to the binding post B or other suit able take-off is secured the wire D, constituting the lamp-circuit, which may have one or more branches D. Fig. 1 shows the preferred arrangement in plan of the lamps upon such circuits and their ground connections at G, so as to best maintain the car in evenlylighted condition.

The armature E of the electromagnet is in this form a plunger, vertically mounted and electrified by contact with the plates o of the solenoid or otherwise, as desired. It is preferably rounded, as shown, and the influence of the energized coil tends to draw it upward within the solenoid, while its gravitation and any diminishing of the voltage In its path are located a set of contacts F F, preferably movable and supported on bars that are pivoted at H. The weight I or other means on the other end of each bar maintains the same in substantially a horizontal position against its respective stop J. It is preouter ends resting upon the stirrups K, communicating with the contact-bars. To one safety-contact and its contact F (in this case) is connected a Wire d, branching at d in this figure and tapping the lamp-circuit between the fourth and second lamp or set of lamps from each end, (marked 4. and 2, respectively.)

The other contact F is electrically connected through its safety-contact and wires 6 e,which latter enter the lamp-circuit beyond the fourth lamp or set of lamps in each series.

The operation of the regulator will therefore be as follows: Taking the current through I the pole or other source the solenoid-magnet will be energized and the lamp-circuit D and 3, its branches will supply the lamps fully when I their voltage is up to its normal. Thus if we i take ten one-hundredand-ten-volt lamps; in two series, as shown in Fig. 1, requiring five hundred and fifty volts to supply them fully, the armature E would be retained i within the coil. When the voltage dropped to, say, four hundred, the plunger would be just in the act of touching the carbon con; Thei tact F, as indicated by dotted lines. current would then pass through F and its connections, (d d in this case,) cutting out, Any further low- 1 lamp No.2 in each series.

ering of the voltage would cause the contacti F to descend under the weight of the plunger E (resulting from the weakness of the magnet attraction of the solenoid A) until the plunger fell to, say, three hundred volts, when the: contacts F F would touch each other and the No. 4 lamp in each series would be cut outj through the wires 6 e and their connections j with the contact F. would be that the remaining lamps would The result in each case 1 burn to full candle-power, instead of all the i lamps burning dimly from the diminished.

voltage.

taps. The lamp-circuit would then be restored to its normal connection through D D and prevent the short-circuiting of any of the lamps, which might occur if the full current, when some lamps were cut out, was turned through the lamp-taps.

lVhen the current is rising and reaches three hundred and ten volts, the first and second carbons would separate, cutting in the No. 4: lamps. When it reaches fourhun- (lred and twenty volts, the plunger would leave the first carbon, thus cutting in all the lamps. On account of the motion of the car or other jars to which the regulator may be subject it is desired to retard the movement of the plunger, and this I do, preferably, by providing a piece L of magnet metal, preferably iron, slotted or otherwise adjustably mounted to be moved to and from the plunger E, which being electrified will be drawn over against or toward this retarder and be hindered slightly in its up-and-down motion. The blinking of the lamps is thus avoided. Other means for retarding the motion of the plunger and preventing its great sensitiveness to jars may be employed. This magnetic retarder, however, is the preferred construetion.

The weights I on the contact-bars are preferably adjustable toward the pivot H to vary their upward impulse on the plunger E. For instance, the balance-weight on the contactbar of the contact F is slightly less than the weight of the plunger and assists the return of the plunger on increasing the voltage. The stops J are likewise adjustable by slots or otherwise, so that the position of the 0011- tacts F F may be varied and thus vary the pressure of current in cutting off or on the respective lamps. Thus moving the steps up or down will brighten or dim the lamps, respectively.

In Fig. 2 the plunger E is provided with an extension E of non-conducting material having pins e or otherwise adapted to support the switch-arms M M M, which are respectively adapted to contact with F F F, the contact upon the wires of the lamp-circuit D D. The switch-arms are at diiferent distances from their respective contacts, so that as the plunger descends the connection will be made successively for cutting out the lamps l, 2, and 3. The wire D communicates with each of the switch-arms, as shown, on its way to the lamp-circuit 1).

Referring to Fig. 3, I have shown the solenoid mounted horizontally, and the roller 0, carried thereby, is adapted to connect with the respective contacts F F F as the plunger is drawn out by the spring P under the less ening voltage through the coil A. The increase of voltage will draw in the plunger against the tendency of the spring. The contactjoperation is the same as before described. In this figure, however, I have shown abranch wire 6" for a brush-contact with the plunger E to energize the latter. Other details of construction may be employed, however. It will be readily understood that heaters or other devices may be designated by the numerals 1 2, &c. instead of lamps, as above described, and the effect in cutting out will be corresponding, as some heaters in this case would be run to their full efficieney and the others be cut out.

An important application of my device is in the case of arc-lamps arranged in series of, say, ten, and each being, say, fifty-volt lamps. As ordinarily arranged the falling in pressure of fifty volts would affect all of the lamps. With my device only one lamp would be put out,while the rest would burn with full bright- IIO ness. Any further lowering of the pressure would cut out another lamp; but such lamps thus cut out would be restored to the circuit successively when the pressure rises again when operated in connection with my regulater, as above described.

In Fig. 1 the dotted line Z) indicates a wire connecting the electric current through a contact Q, pivoted like the other contacts, or flexible, in the shape of a spring, as shown in this figure. The wire 0 leads olt to the lamp-circuit from the wire Z) or otherwise without electrifying the solenoid-plates and the plunger therein. This first contact Q thus serves to supply the current to the next contact F, and thus operate, as before described, when the plunger descends. Ordinarily the contact Q is not touching the contact F, but is like an open switch being charged with electricity, only needing contact through less resistance with ground connections, which it obtains through the partial lamp-circuit when the plunger descends.

The contact forming the last of the series which will operate the safety cut-out bars f, as before described, is provided with an insulation-piece R on the bottom, which will touch the contacts f and prevent short-circuiting. The insulation may be otherwise provided, if desired.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An automatic electric regulator comprising an electromagnet, an armature therefor having a tendency to move in one direction and resisted by the attraction of the magnet, electrical connections for said magnet, and a source of electricity subject to variable voltage, a set of contacts in the path of said armature, in combination with two or more lamps or other devices arranged in series, and electrically connected to said contacts so as to be cut out successively, substantially as described.

The combination with an electric car provided with a'set of translating devices in series, said devices being supplied at one end from the motive current and suitably greunded at the other end of the series, of an electromagnet supplied from the motive power and suitablygrounded, an armature movable to and from said magnet under varying voltage of the motive current, a set of contacts successively in circuit with a lesser number of said translating devices, and means under control of said armature to send the supplycurrent through said contacts successively.

The combination with an electric car provided with lamps in series, the lamps be ing supplied from the motive current and suitably grounded, of an electromagnet supplied from the motive current and suitably grounded, an armature movable under varying voltage of said motive current, and a set of contacts arranged successively in circuit with a lesser number of said lamps and adapted to be energized successively through said armature.

4. An automatic electric regulator comprising a. series of movable contacts, an electromagnet and armature therefor adapted to operate said contacts, electrical connections for said electromagnet and contacts, a movable piece normally in circuit with said contacts and adapted to be operated by the last of the series when the plunger is in its extreme position, and thereby open the circuit, and interposed insulation between said barand last contact, substantially as described.

5. An automatic electric regulator comprising a vertically disposed solenoid magnet electrically connected, a gravitating plunger as an armature, pivoted bars having contacts at one end in the path of said plunger, balance-weights on the other ends of said bars, adjustable stops for said bars to vary the spacement of said contacts, in combination with the lamps or other devices in circuit, and electrical connections between parts of said circuit and said contacts, substantially as described.

6. An automatic electric regulator comprising a series of contact-points, and actuating means to energize them successively, in com bination with a series of lamps or other devices 011 an electric circuit, of an interposed safetycut-out consisting of a pivoted bar, one end normally communicating with one or more of said contacts, and the other end adapted to be operated in the extreme position of said actuating means and insulation interposed between the contact-points of said means and pivoted bar.

7. The combination with a vertical solenoid-magnet A, wired to a source of variable supply at one end, and grounded at the other end,a gravitating plunger E, pivotally mount ed and balanced contacts F F in the path of said plunger, safety-bars ff insulated at one end and communicating with their respective contacts, and adapted to open the said con tacts in the extreme position of the plunger, of a series of lamps or other electrical devices on an electric circuit, and electrical connections between said devices and said contacts through said safety-bars.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses ROBERT SKEEN,

'Witnesses:

ALFRED A. lunrnnv, H. M. Pimsrnn. 

